Page 16 of A Trial of the Heart

Chapter

Sixteen

Rashad:

“Aye, man. Where ya head space?” Kameron asked, prompting me to look up from my phone. I had been scrolling through pictures from the cruise… most of which were of Shiloh.

“I’m here. What you mean?” I questioned in a blasé tone.

He and I were at the final fitting for his wedding tuxedo. Kameron adjusted the jacket to his suit, peering at me through the mirror.

“You here physically but damn sure ain’t emotionally. What’s up?”

I talked to Kameron about most things in my life, but he was about to get married. I didn’t want whatever was happening with me to impede one of the happiest times of his life. “I’m good.” I dismissed.

Chuckling, Kameron slowly turned, facing me. His head cocked to the side slightly, and his eyes spoke before his mouth did.

“C’mon, lil bro, I know you better than that. You can walk around for other motherfuckers like everything is okay, but I see right through that fake ass persona you got going on,” he said, pausing only a moment. “Tell me what’s up? Talk to me like old times,” he added.

I had to hold in my chuckle. When Kameron and I were younger, we’d go to each other for everything. It wasn’t until we were older that it wasn’t as frequent. Now, it was almost nonexistent.

“I fucked up, bro,” I admitted after a bout of silence.

Kameron looked to the salesperson in the room that I’d forgotten all about with a nod, and he urgently removed himself from the space we were in.

“Talk to me.” He nudged me after sitting down.

“I got myself into some shit that I may not come back from.”

“Typa trouble you in?” Kameron questioned with concern.

The trouble I was in wasn’t the topic or the reason for me saying I’d fucked up, so I didn’t want to make that the topic. I just had to mention that to lead up to the reason I was feeling the way I was.

“The trouble is not the problem.”

“Then what’s up?” He seemed confused.

I exhaled deeply. “The shit that happened has me going to court and shit, right?”

“Right…”

“Remember the chick from the cruise?”

Kameron chuckled. “You mean the one yo’ ass couldn’t stay away from?”

I mimicked his laughter. “Yeah, her.”

“Wait, man. Don’t tell me she got some sexual harassment charge or no other bullshit against you. Or wait… She got a dude, and it’s some problems?” Kameron rambled off.

I chuckled again. It was just like Kameron to go right to the worst of things. If you said someone had gotten into an accident, he’d never ask if they were hurt. He’d go right to them being dead.

“Nah, man. None of that,” I replied, my laughter slowing. “Like I said, I got into some shit that’s landed me with some charges. Long story short, Shiloh, the girl from the cruise, is the prosecutor for the case.”

“Ohhhh, shit. You fucking with the opp?” Kameron joked.

Once again, I matched his laughter. “More like she is.”

My laughter slowed, and so did Kameron’s.

“It’s more to the story, huh? ‘Cause you don’t seem fazed about whatever the charges are but mentioning that woman… something is happening. So, what’s up?”

“I fucked around and started feeling her and can’t cut ties, even though I know we can’t be together.

Shit was real on the cruise, but it got even realer after our paths crossed again.

Shiloh is perfect, too damn perfect.” I chuckled.

“Past shit just won’t let us be anything more than it was.

” I was rambling, which hadn’t been my intention, but like most times, Shiloh had me all over the place.

Kameron looked at me with a slight smirk before laughing a hearty, obnoxious laugh that only came when something slick was coming.

“Man, you ain’t saying shit except you done fell in love with the opp that you barely know.” His laughter never slowed.

I stood sucking my teeth. “Man, hell nah. I barely even know Shiloh’s ass. I mean, yeah. She had some type of effect on me, but it wasn’t love.

I sat at the five-star restaurant with my second glass of bourbon on the rocks, concluding Shiloh had played me.

Oddly enough, this place was her recommendation.

She even stressed the need for me to be on time or else she’d leave.

Picking up my phone I looked one last time to see if I’d gotten a text that she’d be late.

Coming up empty, I chuckled. She had truly played me.

Downing the rest of my liquor, I grabbed my wallet in preparation to pay and head out.

Opening my wallet, a card from the head chief that conducted our private dinner from her birthday fell out.

With a shake of the head, I rested back in the seat.

It was almost comical how Shiloh had trusted me as a stranger, and we spent a better portion of the cruise together.

Now that she already presumed I was guilty, she quickly forgot who I was.

I guess that innocent until proven guilty went out the window the second the law said I did it.

Lifting my phone from the table, I unlocked it and went to the contacts, finding Shiloh’s name.

I pressed the button to connect the call.

I patiently waited with the phone to my ear.

It was probably farfetched that she’d answer as it was perceivable that I’d been stood up.

The melodic tone of the consistent ringing of the phone sounded in my ear before Shiloh’s voicemail greeted me.

“You’ve reached Shiloh Monroe with Crowley and Associates.

I am unavailable at the moment. However, if you leave a brief message with your name and telephone number, I will get back to you at my earliest convenience.

” Her sultry voice sounded like a perfect melody over a dope beat.

There was a slight pause before a quick beep sounded in my ear.

“Yo, Shiloh, It’s Rashad.” I chuckled, though nothing was funny.

“I take your absence means you stood me up. I get you didn’t want to meet me, but after agreeing, I was hoping you’d keep your word.

Since you didn’t, a heads up would have been nice as I could have avoided wasting my time tonight.

You not showing up is loud, though, so I get it.

You got it, and I’ll give you your space,” I rambled.

My message was done, yet I continued holding the phone.

It felt like once I hung up, I knew whatever I did or didn’t have with her would be done.

Finally, I brought the phone down from my ear, hanging up. It was done.

Looking up, my eyes met the server, and I signaled her my way.

“Ready to order, sir?” she stepped to my table with a smile, her pen and notepad already out.

“Actually, can I just get the check for this?” I pointed to the drink.

She smiled. “Leaving already? Sure I can’t tempt you with one of our mouthwatering appetizers?”

I chuckled. “No, thank you.”

I hated I couldn’t eat the food. After I surveyed the menu, I had already settled on what I’d order.

“Maybe next time.” She continued smiling. “I’ll be right back with the check, sir.” Her tone was bubbly, and her walk was just as chipper.

“You tired of waiting?” I heard the sweet, low voice.

I turned slightly, looking over my shoulder.

I glanced up at Shiloh and almost had the same reaction to her as the memory I’d just had.

Shiloh wore a deep green, off the shoulder, thigh-length dress that hugged her frame.

Open-toed heels covered her feet, and her hair was bone straight, hanging freely down her back.

Though no makeup covered her face, she looked like a model ready for the runway.

She was beautiful beyond words, and she knew it.

I knew this would be my last night with her, so I would make the best of it and ensure I kept the moment in my photographic memory.

Guess I wasn’t leaving after all.